“For too long, people have had to neutralise or lose their accent out of fear of prejudicial treatment or to fit in. This has then led to a lack of regional accents, which has allowed this lazy stereotyping and prejudicial attitudes to prevail.”

British politician and television presenter, born 1967

Esther McVey is a British politician and television presenter. Born in 1967, she has been the Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2017 and served as MP for Wirral West from 2010 to 2015. A Conservative, she has also held several ministerial posts in government. Her cabinet and ministerial roles have included Minister of State for Employment from 2013 to 2015, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2018, Minister of State for Housing and Planning from 2019 to 2020, and Minister of State without Portfolio from 2023 to 2024. She is known for her work in British politics and television, and for public remarks on government, employment, housing, and social policy.